Humidifier



May '19, 1936. c. E. RUSSELL HUMIDIFIER Filed Oct. 1 1934 2 SheetsSheet1 INVENTOR,

HIS ATTORNEY May 19, 1936. I Q RUSSELL 2,041,491

HUMIDIFIER I Filed Oct. 1, 1934 2 Sheets-sheaf 2 INVENTOR,

H IS ATTQRNEY Patented May 19, 1936 p I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEHUMIDIFIER Charles E. Russell, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to George F. Mox,Dayton, Ohio Application October 1, 1934, Serial No. 746,312

7 Claims. (01. 261-78) This invention relates to new and useful im- AndFigure 'l is a perspective view of a humidifier provements inhumidifiers. cabinet.

It is one of the principal objects of my inven- Referring to theaccompanying drawings for a tion to provide a fast and efficient processand detail description of the forms of embodiment of means forhumidifying porous materials or submy invention thereindisclosed, thenumeral l stances through intermittent cycles of drawing d s at a t r dv n va uu p mp wh s a vacuum in an inclosed container and admittingoutlet discharges to the atmosphere through a moist air at atmosphericpressure. Time regulavent pipe 2. (See Figure 1.) To the inlet side tionof the cycle through a restricted orifice'adof the pu p I I hav n ct d asu t line 3 mitting the moist air, makes possible a rapid including a T4 and branch connection 5. The 10 evacuation and slow penetration of thehumid air. latter has attached to the end thereof a con- Another objectof the invention is the proventional solenoid-controlled needle valve-6, vision of a method and means for providing heat through which, whenit is open air is admitted from the air surrounding a mixer fortransferto the pump I from an inlet pipe I.

rence to a surface which the atomized air strikes, The suction line 3terminates at another sole- 15 and thereby providing heat to betransferred to noid valve 8, which is in all respects like the valve airwhich has been refrigerated due to rapid 6 and to whose inlet side asuction line 9 is seevaporation. This will raise the wet and dry cured.The line 9 terminates .at a "cross fitting bulb temperature of theoutgoing air and cause ill whose opposite opening is connected with theit to contain more grains of moisture per cubic discharge side of athird solenoid valve ll which 20 foot. is, in all respects, similar tothe valve 6.

It is well known in the cigar trade that a dry To one of the lateralports of the cr s fi in cigar is unsaleable, being often tasteless andun- II) I have connected a pressure-controlled, single satisfactory. Itis also well known that a cigar D double-throw sw c t ou a S o wrappedin foil or a protective cover is difficult line 3. (See Figurel.) Theremaining lateral 25 to humidity. Cigars placed in the conventional P Ofhe e 0S$" fi ti g is Connected W my humidifier require two or threeweeks for their humidifier cabinet M in which the cigars or other properhumidification; and when subject to the obj ts'te be u difi are pmoisture of the humidifier for such a long period, The inlet side of thevalve I i is connected with so frequently mold. With my means forcontrolling my improved atomizer l5 by a suction line [6, humidity, thedriest, wrapped cigars maybe satisand through which moist air, atsubstantially factorilyghumidified in a relatively short time, roomtemperature, is drawnthereby greatly improving the flavor of the cigar.e v m n l d, Single p 1 double Another chief object of my invention isto prot W sw ch I! C mp s a P s cylinder i vide a'means for controllingthe humidity of rend a prin ns n p n is therein C011- frigerators andother food storage space, by first neeted W h a ule ed onta t aexhausting the dry, odor-laden air and then recured to the free end ofthe arm iii are spaced introducing fresh, moist air to freshenperishable, contact blades 20 and 2| insulated therefrom. greenfoodstuffs and maintain them in their orig- W en t acu Within h cylinderis increased 8 1 crisp state for a prolonged period of time. to apredeterminedvalue, the contact blade 20 0 Other important objects ofthe invention will will contact a lower stationary eonteet and be setforth in the following specification and when the value of the vacuumtherein lessens to particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims. nther pr etermined value. th n a m n of In the accompanying drawingsillustrating my the contact blade 20 with the contact 22 will beinvention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the broken and the uppercontact blade 2| will contact 4 apparatus employed with my means forcontrolanother stationary contact 23. (See Figure 1.)

ling humidity. Figure 2 is a sectional view taken The contact 22 isconnected by a lead 24 with through my improved atomizer. Figure 3 is aone terminal of the solenoid winding 25 of the cross sectional viewtaken through my improved valve H; and by another lead 26 with oneteratomizer on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 minal of the solenoidwinding 21 of the valve 6. 5o

isalongitudinal, sectional view taken through my e ontact 3 s n e d by 8lead 28 W improved vacuum safety control and hand release one terminalof the solenoid windin 29 0f the valve. Figure 5 is a view of the innerend of the valve 8. The other terminal of each of the solevalve shown inFigure 4. Figure 6 is an end view noid windings 25, El and 29 isconnected by a of the outer end of the valve shown in Figure 4. commonlead W to one of the fused line ter- 55 minals 3|. The other lineterminal 32 is connected through a lead 33 with the blades 20 and 2!.(See Figure 1.)

My atomizer I5 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3,

forms an essential element in the successful operation of my humiditycontrol means, and consists of a fluid container 34, preferablycylindrical in form and having a beaded neck 35 of substantially thefull diameter of the body of the container. Received within its neck 35is a raised, dome-shaped cover 36, preferably of cast metal, having ahigh heat conductivity such as aluminum. Surrounding the base of thecover 36 is a wide annular flange 31 to receive between it and thecontainer neck a yieldable gasket 38.

Below the flange 31, the cover 36 is formed with a deep baffle plate 39on one side thereof, that extends into the container 34. The function ofthis bafiie will be later disclosed.

In the top of the dome cover 36 I have provided a cylindrical container40 from whose lower end there depends an air inlet tube 4| whose extremelower end is closed by a plug 42.

Below the container 40, and opposite the baflle plate 39, the tube 4|has therein an orifice 42a coinciding with the upper open end of asuctiorr tube 43. This suction tube is positioned vertically within thecontainer and is soldered or otherwise secured to the outer wall of thetube 4|, its lower open end being adjacent to the lower closed end ofthe latter.

At one side of the container 40 there is formed on the dome cover 36 athreaded boss 44 to receive therein the suction line l6. The container40 is adapted to be closed by a flanged cover 45 in the central portionof which a small orifice 46 is provided. When in-use, the container isfilled with loose cotton. The cover 45 is then replaced, being held inposition by a spring clip 41 secured to the neck 35 of the container 34.

When the atomizer is in operation in connection with my humidity controlmeans, air'is withdrawn through the boss 44 and line l6. Air is admittedto the container 40 through the orifice 46, and passes through the loosecotton therein to filter dust particles therefrom and temper the air tosubstantially the temperature of the atomizer. v

The air, thus admitted, passes down through the tube 4i and the orifice42a. As the stream of air passes over the end of suction tube 43, thewater, with which the container is partially filled, will be drawn upand blown in a fine spray toward the baffle plate 39.

It is the expressed function of this plate to provide a surface withwhich the mist contacts at a refrigerated temperature due to rapidevaporation in the atomizer. The thermal conductivity of the metalfunctions to maintain the baffle at a higher temperature than that ofthe humid air which contacts it, thus raising the temperature of thisair. The air as it now leaves the humidifier will be saturated, but at alower temperature than the surrounding air and the cabinet i4.Consequently, moisture will not be excessive Within the latter. 1

The baflie raises the wet and dry bulb temperature of the outgoing airto permit it to contain more grains of moisture per cubic foot.

My humidifier cabinet l4 comprises any suitable air-tight cabinet,having hinged to one side thereof a suitable door l4a through whichboxed cigars, or other objects to be humidified, are inserted. Connectedwith the interior of the cabinet id is a suction line 48 that terminatesat the "cross fitting l0. Also connected with the interior of thecabinet I4 is a vacuum safety control and hand release valve 49. It isthe function of this valve to automatically limit the vacuum within thecabinet to a predetermined 5 value and afford a means to release orbreak" the vacuum within the cabinet when it is desired to open the doorMa.

The valve 49 comprises an elongated body 50 having a central hexagonalshoulder 5|. At one 10 end the body is externally threaded to bereceived in an air-tight connection with the cabinet l4. Formed in theface of this threaded end is a conical seat hole 52 that communicateswith a smaller central orifice 53. Slidably positioned 15 within thisorifice is a valve stem 54 having at one end thereof a conical valvehead 55 that engages the seat 52. Within the opposite end of the body isa large counterbore 56 within which a conical spring '51 is placed.

Adjustably positioned upon the outer threaded end 58 of the stem 54 is ashouldered nut 59 whose inner end enters the counterbore 56 forengagement with the spring 51. Positioned against the outer end of thenut 59 is a check nut 60 to maintain the former in its adjustedposition. It is the function of the spring 51 to maintain the valve in aclosed position until the differential pressure between the vacuumproduced within the cabinet and atmospheric pres- 30 sure is sufiicientto overcome the spring pressure. Secured to the outer end of the stem 54is a concave finger piece 6! which may be depressed to open the valvemanually.

When the valve is opened, air is admitted to 35 the interior of thecabinet through an axial passage 62 formed in the valve stem 54. At itsouter end, beyond the nut 60, there is provided in the wall of the stema port 63 communicating with the axial passage 62. Another port 64 isalso provided in the wall of the valve stem 54 adjacent to the valvehead 55. In Figure 4 I have shown the valve opened to illustrate theposition of the valve stem ports 63 and 64.

The operation of my humidifier will now be 45 fully described:

The motor driven vacuum pump I is in continuous operation while thedevice is in use. It is assumed that the cabinet has therein cigars in adry, stale state, ready to be treated and humidi- 50 fied.

When the door He is closed, the pressure within the cabinet will beatmospheric and the vacuum controlled switch l2 will be in a positionwith the contact blade 2! touching the contact 23. The 55 solenoidwinding 29 will now be energized through the leads 28, 30 and 33 fromthe line terminals 3i and 32, and the valve 8 will be opened. As theoperation of the vacuum pump l continues, a vacuum will be produced inthe cabinet l4 until the atmospheric pressure on the piston I8 caused bythe vacuum in the lines 48, I3 and 9, 3 is sufiicient to break thecontact between the arm 2i and contact 23.

The contact arm-20 will now engage the contact 22, and the valve 8 willbe closed. When these contacts are thus engaged, the solenoid windings25 and 21 will be energized through the leads 24, 25 and 30, 33 from theline terminals Si and 32. The valves 6 and ii will now be held open.

Since the valve 8 is now closed, air cannot be admitted to the vacuumpump i from the cabinet id, but the now open valve 6 serves to by-passair to said pump so that the latter may operate continuously.

Since the valve 8 is closed and the valve ii is open, and a partialvacuum exists within the cabinet ll, air at atmospheric pressure will bedrawn through the atomizer orifice 45 for substantial saturation withmoisture before passing through the suction line l6, valve H and line 48to the cabinet.

When a suflicient amount of air has been admitted to the cabinet throughthe atomizer l .and the vacuum therein is reduced, the pressure dstoring them to a fresh, moist state by subjecting them to changing airpressures through in termittent cycles of drawing a vacuum in thecabinet containing them and admitting humid air to them at atmosphericpressure.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a humidifier, the combination with a humidifier cabinet, a vacuumpump for withdrawing air from said cabinet, an atomizer, means forconducting moisture-laden air from the atomizer to the cabinet inresponse .to a vacuum created in the latter, and a pressure switchresponsive to the vacuum in the cabinet for opening it to the pump andclosing it to the atomizer'and for opening it to the atomizer andclosing it to the pump.

2. In an apparatus of the type described, the

combination with a cabinet adapted to contain cigars, or other articles,a vacuum pump, a branch from the first suction line leading from thecabinet to the pump, an atomizer, a suction line leading from thecabinet to the atomizer, a pressure switch, a branch from the firstsuction line leading from the cabinet to the pressure switch, a valve inthe suction line from the cabinet to the pump for opening and closingsaid line, a second valve in the suction line between the cabinet andthe atomizer for opening and closing said line, and means actuated bythe pressure switch in response to the vacuum in the cabinet for openingthe first valve and closing the second valve to withdraw air from thecabinet while communication between the latter and the atomizer isclosed, and to open the second valve and close the first valve to admitair to the cabinet from the atomizer while communication between thecabinet and the pump is closed.

3. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination with a cabinetto contain cigars, or other articles, a vacuum pump, a suction lineleading from the cabinet to the pump, an atomizer, a branch from thefirst suction line leading from the cabinet to the atomizer, a pressureswitch, a branch from the first suction line leading from the cabinet tothe pressure switch, a valve in the suction line from the cabinet to thepump for opening and closing said line, a second valve in the suctionline between the cabinet and the atomizer for opening and closing saidline, a solenoid means for opening and closing each valve, and electricswitch means actuated by the pressure switch in response to the vacuumin the cabinet for alternately opening and closing an electric circuitincluding each solenoid means to alternately open and close said valvefor the purpose described.

4. In a humidifier, the combination with a humidifier cabinet, a vacuumpump for withdrawing air from said cabinet, means for continuouslyoperating said pump, an atomizer in communication with said cabinet,means for conducting moisture laden air from the atomizer to the cabinetin response to a vacuum created in the latter, a pressure valveresponsive to the vacuum in the cabinet for opening the latter to theatomizer andclosing it to the pump, or opening the cabinet to the pumpand closing it to the atomizer, a line leading from the pump to theatmosphere, and means controlled by the pressure valve to open said linefrom the continuously running pump to the atmosphere when communicationbetween the pump and the cabinet is cut oil by said pressure valve.

5. An atomizer comprising a chamber containing a fluid, athermo-conductive cap on said container, a heat radiating surface insaid container, an atomizer jet discharging against said heat radiatingsurface, an air inlet passage in said cap, to the jet in the container,and a discharge passage for releasing the humid airv at substantiallythe temperature of the surrounding air to offset the refrigerationaction of the jet.

6. The process of raising the temperature of humid air discharged by anatomizer, which consists in passing incoming air throughthermoconductive material, then atomizing said air, then discharging theair in its atomized condition against a heat radiating surface, andmaintaining said surface at a. higher temperature than that of the airdischarged against it, but not above room temperature.

'I. An atomizer comprising a chamber containing a fluid, a dome-shapedcover for said container, a baflie plate projecting from said cover intothe container, an atomizing jet discharging against said baiiie platemeans for maintaining said baffle plate at a higher temperature thanthat of the air discharged against it, but not above room temperature,an air inlet passage to the jet in the container, and a dischargepassage for releasing the humid air.

CHARLES E. RUSSELL.

